Improvement in combined treadle and hand-lever



H. R. SAUNDERS. Combined Treadle and Hand Lever.

Patented Aug. 19,1879.

WITNESSES Ma a ATTORNEYS.

N- PETERS. PHOTd-L THOGRA WASHINGTON D C UmrEnSrATEs PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT R. SAUNDERS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPR OVEMENT IN COMBINED TRE'ADLE AND HAND-LEVER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 218,779, dated August 19, 1879; application filed f August 14, 1878.

To all whom it mag concern:

7 Be it known that I, HERBERT R. SAUNDERS, of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have inventeda new and Improved Combined Treadle and Hand-Lever, for utilizing strength and weight in operating pumps, hand-cars, and for other purposes, of which the following is a specification. t

My invention is animprovement in the class of apparatus which consist of a treadle and hand-lever, so connected as to work in unison,

for transmittingpower and operating machinery of various kinds.

The construction and operation of the apparatus are as follows:

- passes through the levercmidway ofits length,

whereby the'lever extends an equal distance each way from its fulcrum.

The lever c is shown double, eachpart being connected to one standard, b, and the two parts are connected together at their ends.

6 e are seats or foot-rests, one at each end of lever c. These-rests consist of curved plates attached to the lever c with their convex side upward.

f is a second lever, hung near the upper end of standards I) by a center fulcrum-pin, g. This lever f is similarto 0. except that itis shorter, and the ends of its two parts are connected together by pins k, that carry rollers ,i, one at each end of'leverf. These rollers 12 will be of convenient size for grasping. with the hands of the operator.

k l are rods connecting the levers c and f. The rod is is connected to c at one side of fulcrum d. as seen at m, and to leverf at one side i of fulcrum g, as seen at a; but the points of attachment are at opposite sides of a line through the fulcrums d g.

The rod Z is connected in the same manner, but at the sides of the fulcrums opporod into a hole in the lever.

Chains or straps may be substituted for rods k l and answer the same purposes.

It is evident thatif the weight of the operator be applied to one end of leveric that end will be depressed and the end of f on the same side of the standard will be raised. The roller or handle i is then to be grasped by the operator to shift his weight from feet to hands, which will depress that end of lever f and e1e-- vate the end of 0. Then, if the parts are rightly proportioned, the operator can lift with his hands on lever f, while his weight is upon 0, and the operation continued, as described.

The apparatus shown is adapted for a second operator, who will work upon the other ends of the levers in a similar manner.

The motion of the levers thus obtained may be utilized in any desired manner for pumping Water, propelling hand-cars, operating fire-engines, or for other purposes.

In operating a pump the piston will be connected to leverf at the point a.

I am aware of PatentNo. 59,117, and claim no part of the mechanism therein shown or described.

My invention is distinguished from said mechanism by the levers being of difl'erent length, by the fulcra of the levers being fixed and located in the middle of the length of the levers, instead of being movable and placed between their middle and ends, and also in the employment of rigid connecting-rods, instead of jointed ones, attached to a crankmy invention the force or pressure applied by the hands on the upper leveristransmitted HERBERT RANDOLPH SAUNDERS.

Witnesses FRANK E. RIGHEY, H. M. CHITTENDEN. 

